DANIELLE CARSTENS

Danielle has been photographing the world around her for as long as she can remember. As a child, a disposable Kodak film camera was rarely far from her reach.

Years later, the camera remains a constant companion—albeit a more sophisticated one. Her passion for photography, combined with a deep-rooted love for wildlife and untamed landscapes, naturally led her to become a professional photographic guide in Africa, where she was born and still resides. She spent many years living in Botswana, guiding photographic safaris through some of the country’s most remote and wild regions for guests from across the globe. Beyond Botswana, Danielle has led photo tours in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Kenya, and has travelled extensively through both well-known and lesser-known destinations including Sudan, Lesotho, and Madagascar.

More than three decades spent in the bush have given her an intimate understanding of animal behaviour—an element she considers fundamental to compelling wildlife photography. Witnessing her guests grow in confidence and creativity behind the camera, while immersed in the beauty of the natural world, is what brings her the greatest joy. For Danielle, wildlife photography is as much about patience and presence as it is about the image itself.

Her vision is for photographic safaris to become one of the most sustainable forms of tourism, helping to protect the wildlife and wild places that are increasingly under threat. When she is not in the bush, she is happiest in or on the water—swimming, standup paddle boarding, or simply soaking up the sunshine.